The door to the office swung open. I could hear it, even though my mind was still drowning in what I had just learned.
The hologram was gone.
Just like always.
"Thank God..."
Lucian’s voice reached first, rushed and unsteady as his footsteps closed the distance.
"Tell ... this is really you, right?" His hands cupped my face, warm and careful, his eyes searching mine like he was afraid I would disappear again if he blinked.
I opened my mouth to answer but nothing ca out.
Instead, a sharp ache climbed into my chest, tight and suffocating, pressing against my ribs until it hurt to breathe.
My eyes burned.
Not with tears.
With everything I couldn’t release.
Lucian didn’t wait for an answer.
He pulled against him, holding tightly, one arm wrapped protectively around my back like he was afraid the world might steal from him again.
"Hey..." he murmured against my hair. "It’s okay. You’re here. You’re safe."
Safe.
The word felt wrong in my body.
I pressed my face into his chest, shaking silently, my hands clutching his clothes as if they were the only real thing left in existence.
"Lu–Lucian..." I finally managed to whisper. "Is it true... that I’m pregnant?"
He pulled back slightly, just enough to look at , and nodded with a weak, careful smile.
"Mm. Darian checked you himself," he said gently. "He confird it. You’re pregnant."
The air vanished from my lungs.
My knees gave out instantly, my body folding in on itself but Lucian caught before I could hit the floor, his arms locking around as he pulled tightly against his chest again.
"Hey—hey," he breathed urgently. "I’ve got you."
I clutched onto him, my fingers digging into his coat like it was the only thing stopping from falling apart completely.
Sothing sharp twisted in my chest.
"She said..." I whispered hoarsely. "She said I already lost it..."
The whole room fell into dead silence.
"She said..." My lips trembled as I forced the words out. "She said I lost our baby the mont I chose myself over..."
I trailed off, my throat burning too much to continue.
"But Lucian..." I whispered, shaking my head. "I–I don’t know what’s real anymore..."
My fingers curled into his coat, helpless.
"She sounded so sure," I murmured. "So cruelly... confident."
He tightened his hold on without hesitation, "Look at ," he said quietly.
I lifted my eyes toward him, searching his face like it might give an answer my heart couldn’t.
"Who is it?" Lucian said firmly. "Who told you that?"
"Elyndra, she was here, just now..." my voice cracked. "What if... what she told is true... what if..." I paused, couldn’t continue my words afraid it would beco reality.
His jaw tightened as his hand slid to my back, grounding .
"Don’t worry," he said softly but with certainty. "Let’s get you ho first and check. I’ll call Darian to co as soon as possible."
He brushed a hand through my hair, slow and careful, like I might break if he moved too fast.
"You don’t have to face this alone," he whispered. "Not your fears. Not her words. Not anything."
I nodded weakly, even though the tightness in my chest refused to loosen.
"I’m just... grateful you ca back to ," he said quietly. His eyes closed for a few seconds, like he was finally allowing himself to breathe again after fearing he might lose forever.
When he opened them, a part of the panic had faded.
I looked down, unable to et his gaze. "I’m sorry," I whispered. "This... this is all my fault."
My fingers curled into my sleeves.
"I shouldn’t have believed her. I shouldn’t have listened. I shouldn’t have..." My voice wavered. "Maybe if I hadn’t done anything at all... none of this would’ve happened."
Lucian’s hold on tightened.
"Don’t," he said imdiately.
He lifted my chin gently, forcing to look at him.
"Elyndra didn’t ruin us because you were weak," he said softly but firmly. "She ruined us because she chose to hurt us."
The words sank deeper than comfort ever could.
"You survived sothing that should’ve erased you," he continued. "That’s not your fault. That’s strength."
I didn’t know how to respond.
No matter how gently he said it... his words couldn’t undo the weight in my chest.
Couldn’t quiet the doubt whispering that maybe I should’ve been smarter, braver and less trusting.
I lowered my head, my fingers clutching his sleeve.
"I still let it happen," I whispered. "I still walked straight into her trap."
Lucian exhaled slowly, pressing his forehead to mine.
"You were trying to live," he said quietly. "You were trying to survive."
His thumb brushed lightly over my cheek.
"Don’t confuse that with foolishness."
My chest tightened again, but this ti for a different reason.
"Hm... let’s go back," I whispered, drawing in a long breath. "I really, really hope our baby is safe..."
Lucian smiled faintly and nodded, firm and certain.
"Let’s go ho."
But the mont we stepped out into the corridor, soone dropped to their knees in front of .
"My Lady—"
I flinched.
Vaylen.
He knelt low, his shoulders shaking as he lifted his head, desperation written across every line of his face.
"Please," he said hoarsely. "Help save my daughter. Celeste... Celeste still needs to be healed."
The hallway went quiet.
I stared at him for a long mont... then spoke softly.
"I’ve t her," I murmured. "She’s really beautiful..."
Vaylen’s head snapped up, eyes widening.
"I promised her," I went on quietly, my fingers curling against my palm, "that I would bring her out from that... hellish prison."
His lips parted, trembling.
"You... you’ve... seen her?" he whispered, disbelief tangled with fragile hope.
I nodded slowly.
"Mm... she doesn’t want to die," I said quietly. "She doesn’t want to lose her mories... or forget who she is."
My fingers tightened at my side.
"So we’re not letting her disappear," I added, lifting my gaze to him. "We’ll figure out another way. A real way to bring her back."
Vaylen swallowed hard, his shoulders shaking as he bowed his head again, this ti not in despair... but in gratitude.
"Thank you," he whispered, voice breaking. "Thank you for not giving up on her."
Lucian stepped forward then, his presence firm and unyielding.
"We won’t," he said coldly. "We need to trace Elyndra first, to make sure the sa thing wouldn’t happen again and to save others from her..."
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